By Caitlin Rogger (Policy Manager) • March 23, 2020
Cities across the world are trying out bold ideas to address the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. Philadelphia, New York City, and more dramatically Bogotá, Colombia, are closing off some streets for people on bike and foot only. Should DC and the Washington region do the same?
By Jane Green (Development Director) • March 23, 2020
Join Georgetown University for a webinar on Friday, April 3, to find out how its Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning will prepare you to solve the critical challenges facing urban communities around the world.
By Jonathan Paul Katz (Guest Contributor) • March 23, 2020
In pre-coronavirus days, about a third of all public restroom users washed their hands. That wasn’t good enough then and it really isn’t good enough now. During this pandemic, we all need to be washing our hands, often! The problem we have now is a lack of public facilities to wash them.
On Monday, District and state leaders extended measures to keep people at home, with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser ordering police to disperse large groups of people, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordering all non-essential businesses closed, and Virginia Gov Ralph Northam ordering restaurants, businesses, and schools closed. (Martin Austermuhle, Eliza Berkon, and Elliot C. Williams / WAMU)
Montgomery County is considering using $25 million from its rainy day fund to help small businesses impacted by coronavirus-related closures that employ 100 people or fewer and have their principal operations in the county. (Briana Adhikusuma / Bethesda Beat)
An economist at Zillow, the real estate website, says the housing marketing may be more insulated from the effects of a recession today than it was in 2008 when a crisis in the housing market helped compound the economic downturn. (Jeff Clabaugh / WTOP)
Until fighting among Silver Line extension companies, contractors, and public agencies over the installation of software ends, trains cannot run beyond Wiehle-Reston East to Dulles International Airport and Ashburn. (Max Smith / WTOP)
Arlington County agreed to allow Amazon HQ2 developer JBG Smith to increase the size of three of its Amazon-adjacent mixed-use projects by 1 million square feet in exchange for the developer providing affordable housing, park space, and transportation improvements in Crystal City. (Alex Koma / WBJ)
With more people spending time at home because of social distancing, many are rethinking the habit of taking an easily avoidable car trip, like driving to the grocery store to pick up a single item, and learning to stock-up during one trip or, simply, to walk more. (Kea Wilson / Streetsblog)
After little action by Park Service Police to stem the throngs of cherry blossom gawkers who chose to ignore coronavirus warnings, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser had MPD effectively block public access to the Tidal Basin. (Michael E. Ruane, Darran Simon, and Fenit Nirappil / Post)
